The Illini could have done it the easy way.  Just beat Penn State in Happy Valley last Thursday night and they would have been the #2 seed at the Big Ten Tournament  and finished in sole possession of second place.  But of course...Talor Battle took care of that possibility with his end to end race to the game-winning basket.

Instead...the Illini had to sweat out Iowa's double overtime thriller over Penn State and Michigan State's hard fought win over Purdue before claiming a tie for second with Purdue and gaining the #2 seed in Indy....thanks to beating the Boilermakers twice during the regular season.  

As they say on the golf course...it's not how...it's how many.

I like the Illini's draw in the tournament and  like the fact that Minnesota...Northwestern...Ohio State and Michigan State are on the other side of the bracket.  I also will take my chances with Iowa and Michigan.  Neither team will be easy to beat...but the Illini went 2-1 against those two clubs during the conference season (1-1 vs Michigan...1-0 vs Iowa).

I also wouldnt mind watching #6 seed Penn State sweat a little.  Make them beat #11 seed Indiana and then go toe-to-toe with the Boilermakers late on Friday night in the quarterfinals at Canseco.  If the Illini were fortunate enough get that far and have to tangle with the Nittany Lions again in the Big Ten semifinals....well....the incentive to get back at them for that heart-breaking last-second loss...well...lets get there first. (can you tell that loss still bothers me?)

I always look forward to the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.  It is a great setting and I look forward to talking to you on the Illni Sports Network from Canseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.